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Car of the Year - Part 4: Owner Feedback
What do the owners of the Mustang II have to say about there newly purchased ponies? To find out, we took a list of 48 new purchases and narrowed that down to six families in the sprawling L.A. area. Here's what they said....
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Milford G. James is vice principal of a public school in Los Angeles. A bachelor, he is 46.
The model: Ghia V-6 with automatic transmission and air conditioning.
Why did you buy a Mustang II?
I was ready for a change, although I've had Mustangs for years. I had a 1965 Mustang, also a '68 and a '71 Mustang, so I stayed with the car.
We take it, then, that you're quite satisfied with the car?
Yes.
Is there anything you dislike about your Ghia?
I don't really like the seat-belt buzzers and the interlock system, but if they make the car safer, then I guess it's okay.
Any other comments about Mustang II?
I just think it's great.
Patricia Suhrie and her husband live in Glendale and by any standard, they are not your typical new-car buying couple. With the addition of the new Mustang, they now have five cars, including a few antiques. She is a registered nurse, and since it's her car, she'll do the talking.
The model: V-6 Mach 1 with automatic transmission and air conditioning.
Why did you buy a Mustang II?
Because I had a 1970 Mustang and I liked it very much. As far as being happy with the car, I'm still undecided. I'm comparing it with my 1970 Mustang and it doesn't have the pick-up. I suppose that's because of the smog devices. And the smaller engine. I would have to say that I'm happy right now, at least until the 15th of the month.
Why? Is that when the warranty is up?
No, that's when I make a payment. And I definitely dislike all the buzzers. Definitely. And, except for the loss of pick-up power, that's all I dislike.
What do you like about the car?
Well, it's getting pretty good gas mileage and I like the way it looks and the way it handles. I would like better gas mileage, because compared to the '70 Mustang, it isn't great. But I was going on the theory that a smaller engine would get better gas mileage than a bigger engine, but my husband keeps telling me that I have a smog device on it that's pulling it down. I suppose that has a lot to do with it.
Harry A. Knowles of Garden Grove is a radar technician with the U.S. National Guard. He is married, 40, and the father of one child. The family owns two Pintos, a '72 Runabout and a new Pinto wagon bought with the Mustang II.
The model: four-cylinder, two-door hardtop with manual four-speed transmission.
Why did you buy a Mustang II?
Actually, I went to the dealer to look at the '73 Pintos, because I thought it was the best time to buy the model (year end) but the salesman misunderstood me, and showed me the car that I now have.
Are you happy with your new Mustang II?
Yes. It rides like a bigger car and I think it handles like a Triumph TR-4. I like the fuel mileage that I am getting and particularly the styling. I would say, however, that it does need reclining seats. And I didn't car for the buzzers, but they were easy enough to disconnect. Other than that, I really like it.
Mr. and Mrs. Gunnar Jacobson are in their late fifties and live in Pasadena. The man of the house knows his cars - he drives a 280 SE Mercedes-Benz. This time we let Mrs. Jacobson do the talking.
The model: Ghia, V-6 with automatic transmission and air-conditioning.
Why did you buy the Mustang II?
We were driving down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena and passed a showroom and my husband said, 'Oh, we have to go in and look at the new Mustangs.' So we did, and we ended up driving one off the floor. We wanted a smaller car and it was so beautiful with all those carpets and color is outstanding. I've never had a small car before, either.
I'm very happy with it because I think I'm going to get terrific mileage. But I don't like all the (warning) buzzers and bells and lights. I asked if they could disconnect some of it and they said not legally. Otherwise, it handles beautifully; it handles like a larger car. It doesn't have quite the speed, but I think I'll get much better mileage. And I think that will make up for it.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your new Mustang II?
Well, I've only had it a short time, but I think I'll be very, very glad to have this car as we get into this energy crisis. We were absolutely smitten by the car because it looked so smart. The dealer had an old picket corral fence around it, with sawdust on the floor, and it just looked so smart.
Thomas Rehnert, 26, live in Garden Grove and is a PBX installer for Pacific Telephone. He had a problem recently; he had to teach his wife to drive. The couple has one child.
The model: four-cylinder, two-plus-two Mustang II with automatic transmission.
Why did you buy the Mustang II?
We bought the car primarily for my wife to begin driving. We originally intended to buy a '73 Pinto. I figured at this time of year we'd get a good deal on the '73 Pinto. I wanted a little car for her, with an automatic transmission that would be easy for her to drive, and cheap. We drove the Pinto and I was disappointed. We went back to the showroom and asked to drive a Maverick. I thought it would be a little quieter and a little more powerful. But before we even looked at a Maverick, I saw this Mustang, and I mentioned that I liked it but that it was out of our price range. He let us take it for a drive and we just loved it. So we bought it. We had trouble with the windshield wiper, but that was fixed. Something real simple that I like is the console; it's like sitting in a lounge chair inside the car. The seats are very comfortable. I would rather the seat back was adjustable.
Any other comments about your car?
Well, I just like it. After I had it for the first few days, I kind of wished I'd got the six-cylinder, but then it dawned on me that this has adequate power. I only get 15 miles to the gallon right now, but they say in the owner's manual that the mileage will improve.
Everett Stenstrom and his wife owned a 1971 Dodge Scamp prior to their recent purchase of a Mustang II. He is 50, an inspector and the couple live in Tustin, a community 40 miles south of Los Angeles.
The model: Ghia V-6 with automatic transmission and air conditioning.
Why did you buy the Mustang II?
I like the looks of it and my wife just got her license a few months ago. I kept putting that off and I wanted a small car for her. She'll be driving it to work. I'm still not used to it; it is small and I'm a little over six feet tall. My wife is five-feet-four. I don't think there is anything that I dislike about it. The digital clock is good, too; you don't have to Mickey Mouse with your wrist watch to get the time. And like I said, maybe they got the right theory with this car at the right time. One feature I can't help disliking is, well, I'm used to a big trunk. I'm also a little disappointed with the mileage I'm getting but my wife drives in stop and go traffic, and travels at 10 or 15 miles an hour a lot because of that. I haven't taken it on a long trip yet to find out its potential.
Are you happy with your Mustang II?
Frankly, yes. But when I first got it, it had a transmission leak. I got it on Saturday and took it back on Sunday. I was a little perturbed. I'm going to take it to a diagnostic center and get it really checked out. But my wife is happy with it, and if she didn't like it, she would be biting my head off.
<-- Part 3: Road Test and Engineering
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